Installing a Micro-Drip Irrigation System

Key Features of Micro Drippers

Drippers can be either In-Line or End of Line.

End of Line drippers have one barbed inlet and can be placed at the end of a line of drippers in a large planter, or singularly in pots. In-Line drippers have barbed inlets on either side for connection to Micro Pipe to allow a continuous flow of water. Multiple in-Line drippers can be set up in a long chain to water a trough/large planter.

Depending on what you want to water we offer a range of different litre per hour (L/h) outputs. Use the below recommendations:

• • 2 L/h Output - Suitable for watering seedlings or plants requiring less water.
• • 4 L/h Output - For larger plants/shrubs that need more water to thrive including, vegetable plots and borders.
• • 8+ L/h Output – Perfect for watering newly establishing plants, large shrubs and trees.

Our HydroSure Range of Micro Drippers

Water Saving Irrigation

A Micro Drip system uses significantly less water than manual watering and sprinkler systems. This is because drippers can be positioned to deliver water with pinpoint accuracy directly to the roots of the plant where it is needed most. Micro Drip systems offer environmentally friendly irrigation and reduce weed growth by removing water wastage on the soil surface where weeds can thrive.

Easy to Connect System

Micro Drippers can be easily adapted if you change the placing of your potted plants or garden design. Simply remove the dripper from the pipe, use a Goof Plug to plug the existing hole and a Hole Punch when placing drippers in new locations. You can also easily extend your system by adding more supply pipe and connecting more drippers.

Working Pressure

Micro Drip systems work best at water pressures around 1.5 bar. The water pressure from your tap usually exceeds the required pressure for a Micro Drip system to function optimally. It is, therefore, recommended to use a Pressure Reducer at the start of your system to regulate the pressure to the correct level.

Automate Your Watering

Automating your watering means you no longer have to spend time watering your garden or even turn on the tap. Instead, install any Water/Tap Timer that suits your budget and set it to the times and frequency you would like to water. Using an automated system not only means you save time for other activities but, also means plants can continue to thrive even when you go on holiday.

Top Tip: Set your timer to water early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid any water wastage from evaporation during the mid-day sun.

1. Starting From the Tap

Begin by attaching a Back Flow Preventor to avoid contaminating your water source.

Then, attach a Tap Timer followed by an Irrigation Filter to prolong the life of your drippers and prevent dirt and small particles from entering and damaging the drippers.

A 1 to 1.5 bar Pressure Reducer should then be installed to the filter to regulate the pressure to the correct level.

2. Supplying your Micro Drip System

3. Using Micro Pipe

To install simply use a Hole Punch to insert a hole where you want to feed your Micro Pipe from. Next, use a 4mm Barbed Joiner and push it into the hole just created.

Then, take your pipe up to the plant you wish to water and use Pipe Cutters to cut the pipe to length. At the end of the pipe, insert the barbed end of the dripper.

Top Tip: Similar to LDPE pipe, you may find it easier to dip the pipe in hot water so it is easier to push onto the barb. When the pipe cools, it contracts around the barb ensuring a watertight seal.

4. Using Connectors

Direct pipe around corners using Barbed/Nut Lock Elbows or in different directions using Barbed/Nut Lock Tees to feed the LDPE pipe to the plants you want.

Planning your Micro Drip System

Begin by sketching a rough plan of your garden layout indicating your water source and labelling planting areas/individual plants you would like to water. Next, mark on your plan if you will need In-Line or End of Line Drippers and if you need these to be Essential, Adjustable, Pressure Compensating or Spike Mounted Drippers.

Top Tip: To give yourself more flexibility when planning your system, we recommend buying additional drippers.

You will also need to measure both the size of the area you would like to water and the distance between each watering area. Add this to your plan as this will indicate the length you need to cut your pipe. Take into account components you will need to direct your pipe line around your garden and any Stakes and Wall clips you may need to keep pipe tucked out of the way and avoid any trip hazards.

Calculating your Flow Rate

A Micro Drip system requires minimum pressure to efficiently run. To calculate how many drippers you can run from your water supply you must first calculate your Water Flow Rate.

Use the above calculation to work out your flow rate in Litres per hour then divide this figure by the Litres per hour your Micro Dripper emits. This will tell you how many Drippers you can run from your tap. For more information, visit our Guide to Measuring Water Pressure.

How Long to Run a Drip System For

Avoid running your drip system for frequent, shorter periods as this causes roots to stay near the surface and dry out more quickly making plants more subject to stress and disease.

To find out a run time most suited to your garden’s watering needs, start by running your system two or three times a week for 40 minutes. After each watering cycle, check the water has penetrated the soil to a depth of at least 8 inches. The soil should be damp but not saturated. If the soil is still dry, increase the run time rather than the frequency.

Top Tip: Cover the soil in mulch or bark to further avoid water loss through evaporation. Make sure you don’t bury the drippers as dirt can get into the mechanisms of drippers reducing their performance.

Zoning Your System

Top Tip: We recommend printing out graph paper using it to plan your system. 

Steps for Winterising your Micro Drip System

A Micro Drip System does not need to be taken apart during the winter months. All you need to do is follow the two steps below:

2: To reduce the impact of thawing and freezing inside your pipe line remove any End Stops/Plugs/Caps from your system to allow any sitting water to drain out.

Unclogging Your Irrigation System

Top Tip: Remember to replace the End Plugs after this process.

Caring for Your System in Spring/Summer

In order to keep your Drip-Irrigation system running at its peak, you will need to carry out some occasional basic maintenance.

Firstly, ensure the filter remains clean and the internal mesh screen is intact. To do this, unscrew the filter cover to reveal the internal mechanism and clean out any debris using a bucket of clean water.

Next, walk around your system to check each emitter is working correctly and does not need cleaning or replacing. To ensure your dripper is working efficiently, visually look to see that water is dripping from the outlet. A dripper that is not emitting any water may mean the dripper requires cleaning or you need to flush the system.

Repairing Your Drip System

Then, use a Barbed Joiner/Nut Lock Joiner to reconnect and repair your Pipe. You may wish to turn the system on at the tap to test if this connection is watertight.

Cleaning An Irrigation System

Flushing An Irrigation System

Maintaining A Micro Filter

Repairing Split Irrigation Pipe

HydroSure Drip Kits

If you are looking for a Complete Solution to watering your garden, browse our Ready to use Drip Kits. Hydrosure Drip Kits are available in various sizes with a choice of kits including or excluding a Tap Timer. They contain all the necessary components you need to create a drip system fully customisable to your garden layout. Hydrosure Drip Kits can be used to water all areas of your garden including, pots, planters, greenhouse plants, beds and borders.

Top Tip: For larger gardens or more complex layouts, you can further adapt your Drip Kit by adding more Pipe Line and more Drippers to extend your watering system.

Indoor Watering Drip kit

If you find you are often forgetting to water your indoor plants, you can use an Automated Indoor Drip System to keep your house plants alive and even thrive indoors. Indoor drip kits are fed using a reservoir so you do not need a water source close to the plants you want to water. Using an Indoor Drip Kit means you can arrange your plants in your home wherever you like and adapt your Drip System to match.

Top Tip: Get creative and use a watering can as an interesting feature to supply your system.

Be sure to place your indoor plants in a position near a window to ensure they receive enough light to remain healthy.

Your house plants will also benefit from good potting soil and the correct size pot. Make sure your pot allows for good drainage and regularly prune any dead or damaged leaves.